Foldable ironing board



Oct. 16, 1934. F. L. ELLIS FOLDABLE IRONING BOARD Original Filed NOV. 30, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l Q mimmmmmmmfi Oct. 16, 1934.

F. L. ELLIS FOLDABLE IRONING BOARD 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Nov. 50. 1931 Patented Oct. 16, 1934 UNITED STA ES "1,971,050 FOLDABLE imma ur 'Femvick L. Ellis, Chicago, Ill. 1

Application November 30, 1961, Serial No.15 7'l7 ,998 Renewed March 13,1934 ,l

Claims. (ores-'10) f This invention relates to improvements in .foldable ironing board.

One of the main objects of this invention is to provide a foldable ironing board which can 5 be-readily adjusted to various desired heights;

will be held securelyin the various adjusted positions; and will be more fully supported than the usual board, thus permitting the use of a thinner board- Another object is to provide an ironing board comprising main supporting means, adapted for independently supporting the board, and auxiliary supporting and securing means attachable to the board at a distance from said main means and readilyreleasable; so that closed along garments of nearly the full length of the board may be applied to encircle the board and be ironed thereon. r s

', Still; another object is to'provide an'ironing board which is fully supported, and is especially adapted to suit garments of different lengths and sizes preferably by providing the board with main supporting means adjacent one end, and

auxiliary supporting means which is releasably attachable at various selected positions adjacent the other end thereof. 1

A further object is to provide such an ironing board which is of a simplified and economical,

but a very durable construction, and which is handy and eflicient in use.

These and various other objects and advantages are attained with this invention, as will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which the invention is shown in its preferred form; it being understood that other arrangements and forms of construction may be resorted to for carrying out the objects and purposes of this invention.

In the drawings: 1

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of. an ironing board embodying my invention, showing in full lines the upper operative position, and in dotted lines a partly lowered operative position. I

Fig. 2 Ba view of the plate containing a series of apertures, which cooperates with the anchoring means at the top ofv the secondary supporting member for supporting the board at various heights. V

Fig. 3 is an inverted plan view of the ironing board in its folded position. 7 p

Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view, taken substantially on line 44 of Fig. 3, reverted. i r

Figs. 5 and 6 are enlarged vertical sectional views, taken substantially along lines 5-5 and 66 of Fig. 1.

Fig. '7 is a, vertical, sectional view, taken along line 7- 7 of Fig. 6.

1.60 The form of ironing board; disclosed herein,

embodies several features of improvement over my previous types of boards, especially over that disclosed inmypatent, Number 1,615,116, issued to me Januar-y 18,1927. It is provided with .mainsupporting means adjacent the rear end,

which is arranged and adapted by itself to fully convenient adjustment tovarious desired heights, as inmy :pr-ior ironing boards."

This improvedform of ironing board comprises a boarder; tab1e 1 5, provided with main supporting means mounted underneath the broad or rear endof the board, including a main supportingmember or frame 16 whichis swingably connected to the board or table, and a secondary supportingmember or frame 17 which is. pivotally and foldably connected at its intermediate part tothe intermediate part of mem- .-ber 16 and has the upperpart adjustably and releasably engageable with the board, in such a manner aslto be anchoredthereon while in the operative position.

t The .board or table. 15 is preferably constructed of wood and is provided with reinforcing crossbars 21 and 22, which are preferably in the form of. angle irons placed respectively at the front and at the rear part of the board, said bars extending substantially the entire Width of the board and being secured to its underside by suitable'securing elements like screws and bolts, substantially as, indicated in the drawings. ,,These bars are of suitable size and strength to provide a; strong board which will retain its shape and prevent any warping'tendency.,' ,7

The m ain supporting member 16 preferably ,consists of a pair .of -wood bars which have their lower, parts "23 secured 7 together in slightly spacedrelation, as by means of suitable spacers 24 and 25 and bolts24' and 25' extending therethrough, said bars then ,diverging above the spacer.25 for aportion26 and then at their ,upper parts 27 being considerably spaced and sub- -stantially-parallel. These parts 27 are ,pivot- I ally connected at their upper ends tothe crossbar 22,. by means. of bracket members or ears :23 depending from crossbar22 and a pivot rod 129 vextendingthrough openings provided in said ears and in-the ends of parts 27. The connected lower parts 23 of this forwardlyand downwardly slanting member l6 pr'ovide a front supporting l sjl he supporting member 17 includes a pair of legs 31 which are positioned at the outer sides of and are pivotally connected to upper parts 27 of member 16, preferably. by means of a pivot rod 32 extending through pivot openings provided therein. Three spacing sleeves are preferably positioned around this rod, a long sleeve 33 between the two spaced parts 27, and two short sleeves. 33' between parts 27 and legs 31. A brace member 34, preferably in the form of a board, connects the 10W-.'

or parts of the legs for holding, the same rigidly together. These legs are preferably made of wood and diverge toward their lower ends so as to provide a widespread support with said lower ends.

Means is provided herein for adjustably and releasably connecting the secondary supporting member 17 with the board, whereby to adjust the board at its various selectedheight'syand this comprises a pair of metal plates or bars 35 secured with screws or suitable securing elements to the underside of the board, adjacent its sides and intermediate its length, as indicated in Fig. 3. Each plate contains a series of apertures or slots which are progressively spaced apart from the front end toward the rear end of the board, as best shown in Fig. 2 by the apertures or slots 1 to 11, inclusive, the shortest distance being between the two forward slots 1 and 2, and the greatest distance being between the rear slots 10 and 11-. Each of these slots is tapered or trapezium shaped being broadest at the rear end thereof, substantially as indicated.

Each leg 31 of member 17 is provided with means at its top for interengaging with said notched plate, preferably having a metal strip or member 38 secured to its upper end, and each strip being provided at its top with a restricted neck 39 having a head 40 thereon which tapers toward the top, to enter readily in the broad rear part of either of said slots, said neck fitting closely in the narrow forward part of the slot. A pair of shoulders 41 are thereby provided at the sides of the neck, which are adapted to engage beneath plate 35 to support it and the board thereon.

A pair of grooves 42 are provided in the board across which the plates 35 are mounted for receiving heads 40 therein.

The interengaging headed strip means and slotted plate means provides means for anchoring and firmly securing the secondary supporting member and board together; and the supporting members 16 and 17 together thus provide a main supporting means adapted to independently and fully support board 15; so that they will not be accidentally separated in moving the board about, and the adjustments may also be readily made.

It will be observed from the drawings, as indicated by the full line position in Fig. 1, that when the strips 38 of legs 31 are engaged with the rear slots 11 in plate 35 under the board, that the ironing board is placed'at its greatest height; and that when said strips are engaged with the front slots 1 of plate 35, that the board will be supported at its lowest open position; and that the board may be similarly supported at its various intermediate positions, as indicated by the dotand dash lines in Fig. '1.

It has been found by experience that these various heights of the board are entirely suitable for general purposes when arranged from 24 inches to 34 inches, in a series of eleven heights, 1 inch apart. This arrangement will accommodate a person while seated, and will also accommodate persons of the various heights while standing.

Auxiliary supporting means is provided in this form of my invention, for supporting the front or narrow end of the board, said means being adjustable in harmony with the adjustment of supporting members 16 and 17, and beingv also adapted for supporting the board at several selected places underneath the front end thereof, so as to adapt this board for closed garments of various lengths. This means comprises an adjustable rod which preferably includes a lower section 44 and an upper section 45 adjustably connected, preferably by means of a sleeve 46 secured on the overlapping end of one section, as the upper end of section 44,

to embrace the other section 45; and a thumb tion 44* to bear against section 45 and secure it in position. The lower section 44 has its lower end placed between spacers 24 and is pivotally supported on bolt 24, at the lower, front end of member 16; and the rod is adapted 'to be swung between the spaced parts 23 of member 16, to rest on spacer 25 and to be held in position thereby when the device is folded, as indicated in Fig. 3.

The means provided for releasably and adjustably connecting the rod in various selected places with the front end of the board comprises a plurality of spaced members, preferably in the form of angle-iron brackets 50, 51 and 52, mounted in spaced relation beneath the board, and peg and aperture means for selectively connecting the rod and brackets. Preferably each of said brackets is provided with an aperture 53, and a peg 54 is extended laterally from the upper end of section 45, to be selectively inserted in apertures 53. A spring or clasping finger 55 under the board engages said upper end of the rod and holds it in firm engagement with the-bracket.

As shown in full lines in Fig. 1, the sectional rod may be connected with bracket 50 under the front end of the board, thereby supporting the of the board, and enabling the use of a thimier board than is possible with the ordinary boards supported only at the rear part thereof; and at the same time enabling closed garments of considerable length to be readily placed around the board between this sectional rod and the supporting member 17, since the upper end of the rod may be conveniently released from the board. The rod may also be connected'with bracket 51, thereby providing an intermediate support; likewise with bracket 52, to provide a substantial support for the forward end of the board and at the same time adapt this board to accommodate closed short garments on said forward end; thus readily'adapting this board for diiferent sized garments. The adjustment for lengthening the sectional rod is readily made by manipulating thumbscrew 4'7.

This sectional rod, in addition to being an free moving of the open ironing board, without any danger of collapse. When weight and pressure is then placed upon board 15 during use thereof, this sectional rod will function as a supporting member for supporting the front or narrow end of the board.

The securing of this sectional rod to board 15, and the adjusting of the rod and tensioning of the board, is best accomplished by attaching the apertured end of rod section 45 onto the selected peg 54, whereby its spring finger will automatically engage and hold said end; next bearing down on the narrow end of the board to! slightly flex it; and then turning thumbscrew 47 to secure the rod sections together, thereby securing the parts in the open position.

Means is provided for holding the ironing board in its folded or closed position, and this means preferably includes a plate or bracket member 56 mounted under board 15, as by securing it to crossbar 21, said plate having spaced depending fingers 57 with inner projections 57 at the lower ends; and resilient clamping fingers 58 secured on one of the parts 23 of member 16, having outwardly curved upper parts 59 to engage between fingers 5'7, above projections 5'7. These resilient clamping fingers 58 snap between fingers 57, and resiliently but firmly hold the supporting members in the folded position, also holding the sectional rod between spacer 25 and the board. Spacing members 60 are secured to the underside of the board, to be engaged by the upper ends of legs 31 while folded, and hold them in position.

By constructing the ironing board and arranging the parts as disclosed herein, a sturdy and readily adjusted construction is provided wherein the parts are firmly held in position to avoid any danger of accidental collapse and the parts at the same time may be readily changed to position the board at the selected height. Furthermore, the various selected attachments of the sectional rod to the board adapt this ironing board particularly for closed garments of various lengths and sizes, and make it suitable for use under many different conditions.

I claim:

1. An adjustable foldable ironing board comprising a main and a secondary supporting member foldably connected and said main member including two supporting bars connected in spaced relation and converging at the lower ends a board pivotally connected adjacent its rear end to the main supporting member and adjustably connected to the secondary member for supporting the board at various heights, an auxiliary supporting member including a rod adjustable for length pivotally mounted between said lower ends of. the bars to be foldable therebetween and to be detachably connected with the forward part of the board, and means serving to connect the intermediate portion of said bars in spaced relation and whereon to support and retain the rod when the members are folded.

2. An ironing board comprising a board and main supporting means mounted under the rear part thereof adapted to independently support 1 the board in operation and including adjustable means to support the board at various selected heights, auxiliary supporting means including a sectional rod foldably mounted on the front part of said main supporting means and including means to secure the sections at various lengths, and interengaging means on the board and the upper end of said rod including a bracket applied to the board, coacting peg and apertured means on said rod and bracket, respectively, and a spring finger applied to said bracket for bearing engagement with said rod.

3. The combination of a foldable frame including inclined front and rear supporting legs, an ironing table pivoted at its rear. end to said rear leg and normally resting on said front leg in overhanging relation thereto, and means for adjustably engaging the front leg with the ironing table at different distances from the table-pivot, comprising a plate applied to the underside of the table and having a longitudinal row of substantially trapezium-shaped openings therein tapering toward the front end of the table, and a coupling element applied to the upper end of said front leg for engagement with one or another of said plate-openings and including a head and a reduced neck, the neck being engageable with the tapered sides of one or another of said plate-openings and in the operative position of its leg being wedged firmly in such opening, said neck resulting in an upwardly-facing shoulder upon which said plate is adapted to normally rest.

4. A foldable adjustable ironing board comprising a main and a secondary member foldably connected, a board swingably connected adjacent its rear end to the top of the main member, connecting means including apertured plate means on the board and anchoring means on the secondary member for detachably and adjustably connecting them together to vary the height of the board, said main and secondary members being adapted to support the board in operation, and an auxiliary supporting member mounted on said main member adjustable for length and provided with resiliently retained interengaging means thereon and on the board for detachably securing it to the forward end of the board, whereby this member functions as an auxiliary support for the forward part of the board and as a tie-rod for securing the board under tension and securing the parts firmly together so that it will not unfold when lifted or pushed about.

5. A foldable adjustable ironing board comprising a main member and a secondary member foldably connected, a board swingably con-- nected adjacent its rear end to the top of the main member, connecting means including apertured plate means on the board and anchoring means on the secondary member for adjustably connecting them together to vary the height of the board, said main and secondary members being adapted to support the board in operation, brackets mounted under the forward part of the board, auxiliary supporting means including a sectional rod and means thereon whereby to readily adjust the same for length, said rod being mounted on the lower end of the main member to be foldable thereon, co-acting peg and aperture means and spring finger means on said rod and brackets for holding them together and to enable convenient connection and separation thereof, whereby said auxiliary supporting member functions as a support for the forward part of the board and as a tie-rod for securing the board under tension and holding the parts firmly together so that the board will not unfold when tilted or pushed about.

FENWICK L. ELLIS. 

